Force sensor method and construction
First Claim
1. A method of making a force sensor, particularly sensitive to the axial component of an applied force, said force sensor being of the type including a force-receiving membrane deformable by an applied force to be sensed, said method comprising:
- providing the force sensor with a body of a liquid, and with a second membrane separated from said force-receiving membrane by said body of liquid;
applying the force to be sensed to the center of said force-receiving membrane to thereby pressurize said liquid according to the magnitude and axis of the force applied to said force-receiving membrane; and
measuring the deformation of said second membrane;
wherein said force-receiving membrane is of a non-undulating configuration in its normal condition and is deformable, by a force applied to its center at an oblique angle to its surface, into an undulating configuration, to include an inwardly-bowed section on one side of its center, and an outwardly-bulged section on the opposite side of its center, such that the liquid body is pressurized by the applied force only according to the axial component of said applied force.
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Abstract
A method of making a force sensor, the force sensor being particularly sensitive the axial component of a force applied along a predetermined axis, of the type including a force-receiving membrane deformable by an applied force to be sensed, the method comprising: providing the force sensor with a body of a liquid, and with a second membrane separated from said force-receiving membrane by the body of liquid; applying the force to be sensed to the center of the force-receiving membrane to thereby pressurize the liquid according to the magnitude and axis of the force applied to the force-receiving membrane; and measuring the deformation of the second membrane; wherein the force-receiving membrane is of a non-undulating configuration in its normal condition and is deformable, by a force applied to its center at an oblique angle to its surface, into an undulating configuration, to include an inwardly-bowed section on one side of its center, and an outwardly-bulged section on the opposite side of its center, such that the liquid body is pressurized by the applied force only according to the axial component of the applied force.
16 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of making a force sensor, particularly sensitive to the axial component of an applied force, said force sensor being of the type including a force-receiving membrane deformable by an applied force to be sensed, said method comprising:
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providing the force sensor with a body of a liquid, and with a second membrane separated from said force-receiving membrane by said body of liquid; applying the force to be sensed to the center of said force-receiving membrane to thereby pressurize said liquid according to the magnitude and axis of the force applied to said force-receiving membrane; and measuring the deformation of said second membrane; wherein said force-receiving membrane is of a non-undulating configuration in its normal condition and is deformable, by a force applied to its center at an oblique angle to its surface, into an undulating configuration, to include an inwardly-bowed section on one side of its center, and an outwardly-bulged section on the opposite side of its center, such that the liquid body is pressurized by the applied force only according to the axial component of said applied force. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of sensing the axial component of a force by means of a sensor of the type including a deformable membrane, said method comprising:
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providing the sensor with a chamber which is filled with a liquid and which is closed at one side by said deformable membrane; wherein said deformable membrane is of a non-undulating configuration in its normal condition and is deformable, by a force applied to its center at an oblique angle to its surface, into an undulating configuration, to include an inwardly-bowed section on one side of its center, and an outwardly-bulged section on the opposite side of its center, such that the liquid body is pressurized by the applied force only according to the axial component of said applied force; applying the force to be sensed to the central region of said deformable membrane, to thereby pressurize said liquid according to the magnitude of the axial component of the force applied to said deformable membrane; and measuring the pressure of the liquid in said chamber. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A force sensor particularly sensitive to the axial component of an applied force, comprising:
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a housing having a chamber filled with a liquid; a deformable membrane closing one side of said chamber such that the inner surface of the membrane contacts said liquid, and the outer surface of said membrane is adapted to receive at its center region the force to be sensed, to thereby pressurize said liquid according to the magnitude and axis of the force applied to said central region of the membrane; and means for measuring the pressure of the liquid in said chamber; wherein said deformable membrane is of a non-undulating configuration in its normal condition and is deformable, by a force applied to its center at an oblique angle to its surface, into an undulating configuration, to include an inwardly-bowed section on one side of its center, and an outwardly-bulged section on the opposite side of its center, such that the liquid body is pressurized by the applied force only according to the axial component of said applied force. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification